The 1972 Federal Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) created a voluntary partnership between federal and state governments to provide responsible development in coastal areas and to conserve coastal resources. As an amendment to the CZMA, the 309 Coastal Zone Enhancement Grant Program was developed to encourage states to enhance their Coastal Management Programs (CMP) in one or more of nine areas. These “enhancement areas” include wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts, special area management plans, ocean and Great Lakes resources, energy and government facility siting, and aquaculture.

To receive Section 309 grant funding, the State must evaluate its CMP in the nine enhancement areas every five years through a process known as the Section 309 Assessment and Strategy. Based on assessment of the CMP in the nine enhancement areas, States develop a comprehensive five-year strategy to address issues where enhancement of the CMP is a high priority.

Section 309 Assessment and Strategy

New Jersey initiated the 2016-2020 Section 309 Assessment and Strategy on October 1, 2014. This process included stakeholder engagement and close coordination with NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management (OCM). The Office of Coastal and Land Use Planning (OCLUP) prepared the New Jersey CMP Section 309 Assessment and Strategy for 2016-2020 following the format required by NOAA’s OCM. The OCLUP engaged stakeholders to gather input on assessments and to provide input to the strategies proposed.

Based on the assessments, a comprehensive five-year strategy was developed to address the high priority needs for the New Jersey CMP and set forth specific program enhancements for the high priority ranked areas in order to identify program changes and implementation activities. Determination of New Jersey's priority needs was made in consultation with NOAA and in consideration of public comments on the draft Assessment.

The NJCMP 309 Assessment and Strategy for 2016-2020 approval letter was received by the Office of Coastal and Land Use Planning on September 28, 2015.